Revised 2019 More entries for dreich

dreichadjective

Factsheet

What does the adjective dreich mean?

There are 13 meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective dreich, six of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

This word is used in midlands English regional dialect, northern English regional dialect, northern Irish English, and Scottish English.

See meaning & use

How common is the adjective dreich?

Fewer than 0.01occurrences per million words in modern written English

See frequency

How is the adjective dreich pronounced?

British English

/driːx/

dreekh

U.S. English

/drik/

dreek

/drix/

dreekh

Scottish English

/drix/

Irish English

/ðreː/

/driːx/

See pronunciation

Where does the adjective dreich come from?

Earliest known use

Old English

The earliest known use of the adjective dreich is in the Old English period (pre-1150).

dreich is of multiple origins. Probably partly formed within English, by clipping or shortening. Probably partly a borrowing from early Scandinavian.

See etymology

Nearby entries

dreepy, adj.1892–
dref, adj.a1325
dreg, n.a1300–
dreg, v.1628–1812
dregbaly, n.1483
dregful, adj.1552–
dreggish, adj.1561–
dreggy, adj.c1440–
dregless, adj.1845–
dreich, n.a1275–
dreich, adj.Old English–
dreichly, adv.late Old English–
dreidel, n.1916–
dreight, n.c1450–1540
dreikanter, n.1903–
dremels, n.1362–77
drench, n.Old English–
drench, v.Old English–
drenche-kive, n.a1300
drencher, n.1755–
drench-horn, n.Old English–

Browse more nearby entries

Etymology

Summary

Probably of multiple origins. Probably partly formed within English, by clipping or shortening. Probably partly a borrowing from early Scandinavian.

Probably originally (i) shortened < Old English gedrēog quiet, calm, sober, (also) fit, suitable < the Germanic base of y- prefix + the Germanic base of Old Icelandic drjúgr (see below);

probably subsequently (ii) reinforced by borrowing of the (unprefixed) early Scandinavian cognate (compare Old Icelandic drjúgr, Old Swedish drygher (Swedish dryg), Old Danish drygh (Danish drøj)),

further cognate with West Frisian dreech, East Frisian (Saterland) drjooch, North Frisian (Insular: Föhr, Amrum) drech, German regional (Low German: East Friesland) drēg, drēge, etc. < the same Germanic base as dree v.

Notes

Semantics of Germanic parallels

In the older Scandinavian languages and in continental West Germanic, the original core senses of the adjective appear to be ‘long-lasting’ and ‘substantial, ample’, in Scandinavian also ‘(of a person) persistent, determined, dogged’. In the Scandinavian languages of the older period, the connotations are chiefly positive or neutral. However, there is also evidence in continental Germanic languages for negative sense developments which parallel negative sense developments in English. Compare e.g. modern Danish drøj in the sense ‘hard, difficult’, North Frisian (Mainland: Bökenharde) driich in the sense ‘boring’, German regional (Low German: Hadeln) dreeg in the sense ‘tedious’.

Form history in English

Middle English forms chiefly reflect developments of long close ē before a following palatal (whether that ē is ultimately the reflex of Old English ēo or of early Scandinavian *ēu). Forms such as driȝe show raising of long close ē before an (intervocalic) voiced palatal, as in the β forms at high adj. & n.2 and some forms of eye n.1 (compare discussion at those entries). Modern English regional and Scots dree shows the reflex of long close ē without such raising and with later loss of the voiced palatal, whereas Scots dreich continues a form with word-final voiceless palatal; for the divergent development see A. J. Aitken & C. Macafee Older Sc. Vowels (2002) §§6.2.1, 6.3.2.

Meaning & use

Quotations

Hide all quotations

Earlier version

dree, a. in OED Second Edition (1989)

In other dictionaries

drī(e, adj.(2) in Middle English Dictionary

Scottish, Irish English (northern), and English regional (chiefly northern and north midlands) in later use.

I.
† With neutral or largely positive connotation.
1. I.1.
  Old English
  
  Of a person: appropriately serious or solemn. Obsolete.
  OE
  Riht is þæt man æt cyricwæccan swyðe dreoh [altered to gedreoh; OE Corpus Christi Cambridge MS. gedreoh] sy, and georne gebidde, and ænig gedrync ne ænig unnytt ðær ne dreoge.
  Wulfstan, Canons of Edgar (Junius MS.) (1972) xxviii. 8
2. I.2.
  a1200–1400
  
  Of a person: patient, long-suffering, stoical; steadfast, resolute. Obsolete.
  a1200
  Lomb is drih þing and milde.
  MS Trinity Cambridge in R. Morris, Old English Homilies (1873) 2nd Series 49
  a1300
  Maide dreiȝ & wel itaucht.
  in C. Brown, English Lyrics of 13th Century (1932) 117
  c1400 (?c1390)
  Nade he ben duȝty and dryȝe, & dryȝtyn had serued, Douteles he hade ben ded & dreped ful ofte.
  Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 724 (Middle English Dictionary)
  the mind will decision constancy or steadfastness [adjectives] capable of moral effort or endurance
  strongOld English–
  
  Of a person, or a person's heart, mind, or character: having the emotional or mental qualities necessary for dealing with difficult or distressing…
  dreicha1200–1400
  
  Of a person: patient, long-suffering, stoical; steadfast, resolute. Obsolete.
  wilfulc1330–1633
  
  In good sense: Strong-willed, strongly persistent. Obsolete. rare.
  stablea1400–1508
  
  Of persons and their dispositions. Strong, capable of endurance. Obsolete.
  toughc1400–
  
  Having great intellectual or moral endurance; difficult to influence, affect, or impress; steadfast, firm, persistent; also, stubborn, obstinate…
  durable1541–1616
  
  Able to endure toil, fatigue, etc. Obsolete.
  strong-minded1544–
  
  Having a strong, vigorous, or determined mind; not readily influenced by others, independent-minded.
  unbending1796–
  
  Not giving way or departing from a position or principle; unyielding, inflexible, steady. Of persons.
  cast iron1829–
  
  figurative. Hard, insensible to fatigue; rigid, stern, unbending; ‘hard-and-fast’, unyielding, wanting in pliancy or adaptiveness. (Hyphenated.)
  backboned1940–
  
  Having a backbone; vertebrate. Also figurative.
  View in Historical Thesaurus
3. I.3.
  a1400–1540
  
  Great in size, force or degree; large, mighty, impressive. Obsolete.
  a1400
  His schadw ouerhiled hilles hegh, And his twigges goddes cedres dregh.
  Psalter (Vespasian MS.) lxxix. 11 in C. Horstmann, Yorkshire Writers (1896) vol. II. 214
  c1400 (?c1380)
  In dryȝ dred and daunger.
  Cleanness (1920) l. 342
  c1450 (?a1400)
  Þe dreȝest deele of þaim died of his dukis handis.
  Wars of Alexander (Ashmole MS.) l. 5568
  c1540 (?a1400)
  Dreghist in armys And the strongest in stoure.
  Gest Historiale Destruction of Troy (2002) f. 83
  c1540 (?a1400)
  Þe kay..the durres to vndo of the dregh horse.
  Gest Historiale Destruction of Troy (2002) f. 179^v
  the world relative properties quantity greatness of quantity, amount, or degree [adjectives]
  muckleOld English–
  
  Modifying an abstract noun (esp. a quality): great in amount or degree; = much, adj. A.I.1d. Now rare.
  wideOld English–1568
  
  Considerable in amount, degree, quality, or intensity. Obsolete.
  largec1300–
  
  Of considerable size or extent; great, big. Designating a quantity, amount, measure, etc., of relatively great magnitude or extent.
  greata1325–
  
  Of material things: a great number or quantity of; a great deal of; many, much. Now rare except in extended use in great smoke, n.
  muchc1330–1616
  
  Great in amount or degree. Obsolete.
  mightyc1390–
  
  Of a thing, action, event, etc.: considerable; very great in amount, extent, or degree. In later use chiefly colloquial.
  millionc1390–
  
  A thousand times a thousand; numbering a thousand thousands; (often indefinitely or hyperbolically) a very great many, countless. (rare in early use.)
  dreicha1400–1540
  
  Great in size, force or degree; large, mighty, impressive. Obsolete.
  rudea1450–1568
  
  Large in amount. Obsolete.
  massive1581–
  
  Of an immaterial thing: grand or impressive in scale; substantial in import or effect. Now frequently in weakened senses: far-reaching, very…
  massy1588–
  
  Of an immaterial thing: great, substantial, dense, impressive.
  heavy1728–
  
  Weighty because of the quantity present; hence, in large quantity or amount, abundant. Also of timber: consisting of large trees (U.S.).
  magnitudinous1775–
  
  Characterized by magnitude; great, significant, imposing.
  powerful1800–
  
  colloquial (chiefly Irish English and U.S.). Great in number, quantity, or degree; considerable. Cf. mighty, adj. A.3.
  almighty1824–
  
  colloquial (originally North American). Of high intensity or degree; very great; enormous; considerable, outright, complete. Cf. mighty, adj. A.3.
  tall1842–
  
  figurative. Large in amount, big. slang (originally U.S.). tall order, something expected to be hard to achieve or fulfil: cf. big (large, strong)…
  hefty1930–
  
  Weighty, heavy; hard, grievous. Also, large or significant in size, and as adverb, ‘powerfully’, exceedingly.
  honking1943–
  
  colloquial (originally U.S.). Great, huge; powerful, impressive. Frequently as an intensifier, following big, great, etc. Cf. stonking, adj.
  mondo1968–
  
  Considerable, huge; ultimate, total.
  View in Historical Thesaurus
  the world action or operation manner of action violent action or operation [adjectives] characterized by unusual violence or force
  ketea1290–1330
  
  Of things: Great, strong, powerful, violent.
  worthyc1350–1500
  
  Of a person or thing: strong, powerful; mighty. Obsolete.
  violenta1387–
  
  Of a movement or action: involving or characterized by great physical force or strength and (typically) speed; not gentle or moderate.
  stronga1398–
  
  Of movement, activity, or something moving or active: having considerable force. Of effort, movement, pressure, etc.: forcible.
  dreicha1400–1540
  
  Great in size, force or degree; large, mighty, impressive. Obsolete.
  forciblec1422–
  
  Done by force; involving the use of force or violence: esp. in Law, forcible detainer, forcible entry (see quot. 1769 at sense).
  strainable1497–1581
  
  In physical sense: violent, exerting great force. Chiefly of wind and weather.
  vehement1531–
  
  Of personal action: characterized by great physical exertion or effort; performed with unusual force or violence; vigorous; strenuous, effortful…
  forceful1592–
  
  Acting with force or violence; boisterous, impetuous, violent.
  wieldy1592
  
  Probably: wielded with force or skill. Obsolete. rare.
  virulent1607–
  
  figurative. Violently bitter, spiteful, or malignant; full of acrimony or enmity. Of action or feeling.
  forcive1634–51
  
  = forcible, adj.
  ass-kicking1977–
  
  Forceful, aggressive.
  View in Historical Thesaurus
II.
With largely negative connotation.
1. 1. II.4.a.
    a1300–
    
    Long, lengthy, protracted, esp. excessively, tediously, or dispiritingly so; (of a road or way) long and wearisome; (of speech or other communication) prolix, long-winded.
    a1300
    Wen þu list, mon, up-on bere ant slepest a swyþe druye [c1300 Arun. dreri] slep ne shaltu haben wit þe no fere butte þine werkus.
    in C. Brown, English Lyrics of 13th Century (1932) 81
    c1450 (?a1349)
    Þerof us þenkiþ þe wey to drie [a1450 Cambr. Dd.5.64 dregh].
    in F. J. Furnivall, Hymns to Virgin & Christ (1867) 22
    c1540 (?a1400)
    The draghtes the dyse and oþer dregh gamnes.
    Gest Historiale Destruction of Troy (2002) f. 27^v
    1685
    Yon Town's a dree way off Pegg, Ise sare tire'd.
    G. Meriton, Praise of York-shire Ale 70
    ?1746
    Whooas Lad art to?..I'm Jone's o'Lall's o'Simmy's o'Marriom's o'Dick's o'Nethon's, o'Lall's o'Simmy's ith' Hoom's... Odd, thinks I't meh sell, theaw's a dree er Neme in mee.
    ‘T. Bobbin’, View of Lancashire Dialect 11
    a1774
    There's lang and dreech contesting.
    R. Fergusson, Poems (1785) 159
    1828
    They wor tought to read, an to sayt catechism i'th' kirk, for au we live a dree way off.
    W. Carr, Dialect of Craven (ed. 2) vol. II. Dialogues 341
    a1859
    The wives curl o'er, wi' converse dreigh, Their ain fireside affairs, Jocose, this morn.
    W. Watt, Poems & Songs (1860) 240
    1932
    Dundee United travel again... They are faced with the dreich journey to Dumfries.
    Aberdeen Press & Journal 21 January 4/1
    1995
    Dree owd sarmin tadaãy what the Parson cum up wi', weãnnt it? Bummin' aweã lãike yon.
    J. M. Sims-Kimbrey, Wodds & Doggerybaw: Lincolnshire Dialect Dictionary 84/1
    2021
    The road back wis langsome an dreich.
    S. Templeton, Clyack 34
    English regional (midlands)English regional (northern)Scottish English Irish English (northern)
    the mind emotion suffering dejection [adjectives] gloomy or depressing
    darkOld English–
    
    Of an era, a person's feelings or experiences, etc.: devoid of happiness, pleasure, or hope; unhappy; pessimistic; bleak.
    unmerryOld English–
    
    Not merry; lacking in joy or merriment; not joyful, mirthless. In early use also: †not pleasing, disagreeable (obsolete).
    deathlyc1225–
    
    Of the nature of or resembling death; having the appearance of death or of a corpse; gloomy, pale, still, etc., in a manner which evokes death.
    dolefulc1275–
    
    Fraught with, accompanied by, or causing grief, sorrow, etc.; distressful, gloomy, dreary, dismal.
    elengec1275–
    
    Remote, lonely; dreary, miserable. Obsolete exc. dialect.
    dreicha1300–
    
    Long, lengthy, protracted, esp. excessively, tediously, or dispiritingly so; (of a road or way) long and wearisome; (of speech or other…
    coolc1350–1425
    
    Providing no comfort or encouragement; chilling. Cf. cold, adj. II.10. Obsolete.
    cloudyc1374–
    
    figurative. Darkened by misfortune, grief, anger, forebodings, etc.; full of gloom or trouble; gloomy, sullen, frowning.
    sada1375–
    
    Expressing or showing sorrow; (esp. of a look, tone, gesture, or feature) mournful.
    colda1400–
    
    figurative. Said of things which chill, or depress the vital emotions, and of the feeling thus produced; gloomy, dispiriting, deadening.
    deadlya1400–
    
    Resembling or suggestive of death. Cf. deathly, adj. 3a. Of darkness, silence, etc.: intense, deep, still, etc., in a manner which evokes or…
    joylessc1400–
    
    Causing or affording no joy; cheerless, dismal, dreary.
    unjoyful?c1400–
    
    Not joyful; joyless; without joy.
    disconsolatea1413–
    
    Causing despondency; dispiriting, disheartening; cheerless, gloomy.
    mournfula1425–
    
    Of a thing, event, action, etc.: expressing or indicating mourning or sorrow; doleful, sad, dismal.
    funeralc1425–
    
    Mournful, gloomy, melancholy; funereal.
    uncheerfulc1449–
    
    Not enlivening or gladdening; cheerless.
    dolent1489–1572
    
    Attended with or causing sorrow or grief; grievous, distressing. Obsolete.
    dolesome1533–
    
    = doleful, adj.¹
    heavy-hearted1555–
    
    Proceeding from or caused by a heavy heart; sad, doleful.
    glum1558–
    
    Of things: Gloomy, dark; dismal. Now only figurative from sense 1.
    ungladsome1558–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 1.)
    black1562–
    
    Of an emotion, state of mind, etc.: full of gloom, melancholy, misery, or sadness; very depressed.
    pleasureless1567–
    
    Devoid of pleasure, joyless.
    dern1570–1856
    
    Dark, drear, dire. archaic.
    plaintive?1570–
    
    Having the character of a lament; expressive of sorrow; mournful, sad.
    glummish1573–89
    
    Somewhat gloomy.
    cheerless1575–
    
    Offering no cheer or comfort; esp. (of a place, the weather, etc.) gloomy, dreary, bleak. Also: not feeling or expressing any happiness; joyless…
    comfortless1576–
    
    Devoid of physical comfort; dreary, cheerless. (The most usual current sense.)
    wintry1579–
    
    figurative with various shades of meaning. Aged; infirm or withered as a result of old age. Of hair: white with age. Also applied to old age, esp…
    glummy1580
    
    Gloomy. Obsolete.
    funebral1581–
    
    Of or relating to a funeral or funerals; funerary; (hence) mournful, gloomy, melancholy; funereal.
    discouraging1584–
    
    That discourages or causes discouragement; disheartening.
    dernful?1591
    
    Mournful, dreary.
    murk1596–
    
    Figurative uses. Gloomy, depressing. Now rare.
    recomfortless1596
    
    Without comfort or consolation.
    sullen1597–
    
    Of immaterial things, actions, conditions: Gloomy, dismal, melancholy; sometimes with the notion of ‘passing heavily, moving sluggishly’.
    dusky1598–
    
    figurative. Gloomy, melancholy, dismal. Now rare.
    amating1600–70
    
    Dismaying, daunting.
    lugubrious1601–
    
    Characterized by, expressing or causing mourning; doleful, mournful, sorrowful.
    sable1603–1710
    
    Mournful. Obsolete.
    funebrial1604–
    
    Of or relating to a funeral or funerals; (hence) mournful, gloomy, melancholy; funereal.
    damping1607–
    
    That damps, in various senses: see damp, v.
    mortifying1611–
    
    Causing humiliation of feeling; (in early use) humbling, depressing; vexatious, annoying; (later usually) humiliating, shameful, embarrassing. (Now…
    tearful?1611–
    
    Causing tears; mournful, melancholy. ? Obsolete.
    uncouth1611–
    
    Of life, surroundings, etc.: Unattractive, unpleasant, uncomfortable. Obsolete or archaic.
    dulsome1613–
    
    Of a dull character or quality; dreary, dismal.
    luctual1613–55
    
    Mournful, sorrowful.
    dismal1617–
    
    Of a character or aspect that causes gloom and depression; depressingly dark, sombre, gloomy, dreary, or cheerless.
    winterous1617–
    
    = wintry, adj. (in various senses).
    unked1620–
    
    Of a place or route: lonely, desolate; bleak; eerie, unsettling.
    mopish1621–
    
    Given to or characterized by moping; = mopey, adj.
    godforsaken?1623–
    
    Originally: (chiefly of a person) abandoned by God; consigned to evil ways, depraved, profligate. Subsequently: (esp. of a place) lacking any…
    uncheerly1627
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 1.)
    funebrious1630–
    
    Of or relating to a funeral or funerals; (hence) mournful, gloomy, melancholy; funereal.
    lugubrous1632–1708
    
    = lugubrious, adj.
    drearisome1633–
    
    Of a dreary character; lonely and desolate.
    depressive1635–
    
    That causes or results in low spirits; tending or having the capacity to make a person feel dejected, demoralized, or miserable. Cf. depressing, adj.…
    unheartsome1637–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 1.)
    feral1641–
    
    Of or pertaining to the dead; funereal, gloomy.
    drear1645–
    
    = dreary, adj. 4.
    darksome1649–
    
    figurative. Devoid of happiness, pleasure, or hope; unhappy; cheerless; gloomy.
    sadding1649–1895
    
    That makes (a person) sad (sad, adj. A.II.5a); (also) becoming sad.
    funerous1650–81
    
    Relating to or characterized by death or funerals; gloomy, mournful.
    saddening1650–
    
    Causing sadness; depressing, melancholic.
    disheartening1654–
    
    That disheartens; discouraging, dispiriting.
    funebrous1654–
    
    Of or relating to a funeral or funerals; (hence) mournful, gloomy, melancholy; funereal.
    luctiferous1656–1824
    
    Bringing sorrow, mournful, gloomy.
    mestifical1656
    
    Saddening, depressing.
    tristifical1656
    
    sooty1657–
    
    figurative or in figurative context. Black, dismal.
    dreary1667–
    
    Dismal, gloomy; repulsively dull or uninteresting. (The ordinary current sense: apparently a later weakening of 2.)
    tenebrose1677–
    
    figurative. Mentally or morally dark; gloomy; obscure in meaning.
    clouded1682–
    
    figurative. Darkened with any passion or trouble; gloomy.
    tragicala1700–
    
    Extremely unhappy; sorrowful, mournful; = tragic, adj. A.1b.
    funereal1707–
    
    Appropriate for, or reminiscent of, a funeral; gloomy, mournful, melancholy.
    gloomy1710–
    
    Causing gloom or depression of spirits; dismal, disheartening.
    sepulchrala1711–
    
    transferred. Suggestive of a sepulchre, appropriate to a tomb; dismal, gloomy, melancholy.
    dumpishc1717–
    
    Such as to put one ‘in the dumps’.
    bleaka1719–
    
    figurative. Cheerless, dreary.
    lugubre1727–1835
    
    Lugubrious.
    muzzy1728–
    
    Of a place, occasion, etc.: dull, gloomy, tedious. Also, of the weather: misty, foggy; muggy.
    dispiriting1733–
    
    That dispirits; disheartening, depressing.
    uncheery1760–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 1.)
    unconsolatory1760–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 1.)
    unjolly1764–
    
    Not jolly; lacking in joy or merriment.
    Decemberly1765–
    
    = Decemberish, adj.; also as adv.
    sombre1768–
    
    Conveying gloomy ideas or suggestions.
    uncouthie1768–
    
    Dreary; uncomfortable; unfriendly.
    unmirthful1782–
    
    Not mirthful; without humour.
    sombrous1789–
    
    Of persons, etc. Cf. sombre, adj. A.2.
    disanimating1791
    
    Decemberish1793–
    
    Resembling or characteristic of December; esp. cold, dark, or dreary.
    depressing1793–
    
    Causing or resulting in low spirits; that makes a person feel dejected, demoralized, or miserable. Cf. depress, v. 6.
    grey1794–
    
    Lacking hope, pleasure, or cheerfulness; dismal, gloomy; sad, depressing.
    uncheering1796–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 4.)
    ungenial1796–
    
    Not cheerful, jovial, or kindly.
    uncomforting1798–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 4.)
    disencouraginga1806
    
    stern1812–
    
    Of a country, or its physical features, the soil, etc. (with figurative notion of senses A.1, A.4): Unkindly, inhospitable; destitute of amenity…
    chilling1815–
    
    That chills: in various senses of the verb.
    uncheered1817–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 2.)
    dejecting1818–
    
    mopey1821–
    
    Given to or characterized by moping; listless and dejected.
    desponding1828–
    
    That desponds; losing or having lost heart or resolution.
    wisht1829–
    
    Dreary, dismal; melancholy, wretched.
    leadening1835–
    
    Pressing down like lead.
    unsportful1837–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 1.)
    wet-blankety1838–
    
    Having a subduing or inhibiting effect; of the nature of or characteristic of a wet blanket (wet blanket, n. 2).
    demoralizing1840–
    
    That causes a loss of confidence, hope, or morale; dispiriting, disheartening.
    Novemberish1840–
    
    Belonging to or characteristic of November; dismal, gloomy (see November, n. 1c).
    Novembery1841–
    
    = Novemberish, adj.
    wet-blanketing1843–
    
    That has a subduing or inhibiting effect. Cf. wet blanket, n. 2.
    frigid1844–
    
    figurative. Said of things: Chilling, depressing.
    morne1844–
    
    Sad, mournful, gloomy.
    tragic1848–
    
    Exhibiting, characterized by, or suffering great distress, misfortune, or sorrow; extremely unhappy. Cf. tragical, adj. A.1b.
    morgue1850–
    
    In extended use: any repository of unwanted, forgotten, or discarded things; a gloomy, cheerless place.
    ungladdeneda1851–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 2.)
    adusk1856–
    
    Gloomy, dark; dusky.
    smileless1858–
    
    Devoid of brightness or cheerfulness; dark, dull, cheerless.
    soul-sick1858–
    
    Of a quality, condition, time, etc.: characterized by spiritual dejection or malaise.
    saturnine1863–
    
    Of a place, event, etc.: gloomy, dreary, melancholy.
    down1873–
    
    Chiefly U.S. colloquial. Causing or characterized by depression, despondency, or lack of vigour; depressing, dispiriting. Cf. down, n.⁴ 1c.
    lacklustre1883–
    
    Wanting in lustre or brightness: originally of the eyes, countenance, etc., after Shakespeare.
    Heaven-abandoneda1907–
    
    = godforsaken, adj. (cf. heaven, n. 7).
    downbeat1952–
    
    Characterized by pessimism or negativity; gloomy, sombre, morose.
    doomy1967–
    
    Of a thing: depressing, weird.
    View in Historical Thesaurus
    the mind emotion suffering feeling of weariness or tedium [adjectives] wearisome or tedious
    dreicha1300–
    
    Long, lengthy, protracted, esp. excessively, tediously, or dispiritingly so; (of a road or way) long and wearisome; (of speech or other…
    alangec1330–1846
    
    Tedious, dreary; strange; = elenge, adj.
    joylessa1400–
    
    Destitute of joy; having, feeling, or manifesting no joy; sad, cheerless. †Sometimes const. of.
    tedious1412–
    
    ‘Wearisome by continuance’ (Johnson); long and tiresome: said of anything occupying time, as a task, or a journey; esp. of a speech or narrative…
    wearifulc1454–
    
    That causes weariness; that tires one's endurance or patience.
    weary1465–
    
    Irksome, wearisome, tedious; in graver sense, burdensome to the spirit.
    laboriousa1475–
    
    Of something produced or constructed: entailing labour in production or execution; produced by or resulting from hard work. Formerly also: †causing…
    tiresome?a1513–
    
    Having the property of tiring by continuance, sameness, or lack of interest; wearisome, tedious.
    irksome1513–
    
    Wearisome, tedious, tiresome; troublesome, burdensome, annoying. Formerly also, in wider sense, Distressing, painful; in early use, Disgusting…
    wearisome1530–
    
    Causing weariness through monotony, or the continuance of uncongenial circumstances; tedious.
    woodena1566–
    
    figurative. Having some quality likened to the hard dry consistence of wood, or to its inferior… Lacking grace, liveliness, interest, or the like…
    irkful1570
    
    Tedious; irksome.
    flat1573–
    
    Wanting in points of attraction and interest; prosaic, dull, uninteresting, lifeless, monotonous… Of composition, discourse, a joke, etc. Also of a…
    leaden1593–
    
    transferred and figurative. With allusion to the want of elasticity in the metal: Inert, spiritless, depressing.
    barren1600–
    
    Of persons: Mentally unproductive; unresponsive, dull, yielding no mental fruit.
    soaked1600–
    
    transferred. Dull, lacking in animation.
    unlively1608–
    
    Not animated, bright, or vivid; dull.
    dulla1616–
    
    Causing depression or ennui; tedious, uninteresting, uneventful; the reverse of exhilarating or enlivening.
    irking1629
    
    drearisome1633–
    
    Of a dreary character; lonely and desolate.
    drear1645–
    
    = dreary, adj. 4.
    plumbous1651–
    
    Resembling lead; leaden (in various senses). Cf. plumbeous, adj. Now rare.
    fatigable1656
    
    Wearying, tiring. Obsolete. rare.
    dreary1667–
    
    Dismal, gloomy; repulsively dull or uninteresting. (The ordinary current sense: apparently a later weakening of 2.)
    uncurious1685–
    
    = incurious, adj. II.7.
    unenlivened1692–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 2.)
    blank1726–
    
    figurative. Void of interest or event; vacant, ‘having nothing in it;’ as a blank look-out.
    disinteresting1737–
    
    Uninteresting; causing lack of interest.
    stupid1748–
    
    Not interesting, exciting, or enjoyable; tiresome, boring, dull. Now rare.
    stagnant1749–
    
    figurative. Void of activity, excitement, or interest.
    trist?1756–
    
    Devoid of interest or liveliness; dull, depressing, dismal, dreary. (Only in form triste, as French.)
    vegetable1757–
    
    Chiefly of a life or lifestyle: resembling that of a plant, esp. uneventful, featureless, passive, monotonous.
    borish1766–
    
    Tedious, wearisome.
    uninteresting1769–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 4.)
    unenlivening1774–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 4.)
    oorie1787–
    
    Dismal, gloomy; cheerless; miserable as a result of cold, illness, etc.
    wearying1796–
    
    That causes tedium or ennui.
    subjectless1803–
    
    Having no theme or subject of interest.
    yawny1805–
    
    Characterized by yawns or (much) yawning; inclined to, or provocative of, yawning.
    wearing1811–
    
    Exhausting, tiring; enfeebling by continued strain or irritation. Also wearing-out.
    stuffy1813–
    
    transferred. Lacking in freshness, interest, or smartness.
    sloomy1820–
    
    Sluggish, dull, spiritless. Also as adv.
    tediousome1823–
    
    Tedious.
    arid1827–
    
    figurative. Dry, uninteresting, barren, jejune.
    draggy1829–
    
    colloquial. Dull or tedious in character; boring, tiresome; spec. (of an event, etc.) overly long in duration or unnecessarily protracted.
    lacklustrous1834–
    
    Wanting in lustre, dull.
    boring1839–
    
    That annoys, wearies, or causes ennui.
    featureless1839–
    
    transferred. Without any prominent mark or point of interest; uninteresting.
    slow1840–80
    
    colloquial. Cf. fast, adj. II.9. Dull or tedious in character; boring, tiresome. Obsolete.
    sodden1853–
    
    Characterized by heaviness, dullness, or want of vivacity.
    ennuying1858–
    
    (rare.)
    dusty1860–
    
    In various figurative senses. ‘Dry as dust’, uninteresting. Also, unsatisfying, inconclusive, poor; esp. in dusty answer.
    cabbagy1861–
    
    Resembling, relating to, or having the characteristics of a cabbage.
    interestless1862–
    
    Without any interesting elements; that does not arouse interest; uninteresting, boring. Also: (of a person) lacking any feeling of interest…
    old1864–
    
    colloquial (chiefly U.S.). Tiresome, esp. through repetition or familiarity. Frequently in to get old.
    mouldy1876–
    
    figurative and in extended use. colloquial. Wretched, poor, miserable, gloomy; boring, depressing.
    yawnful1878–
    
    drab1880–
    
    figurative. Dull; wanting brightness or colour.
    dehydrated1884–
    
    jay1889–
    
    attributive or as adj. in sense 3, dull, unsophisticated; inferior, poor (U.S. colloquial).
    boresome1895–
    
    Tending to be a bore, boring.
    stodgy1895–
    
    figurative. Dull, heavy; wanting in gaiety or brightness. Of a person, ceremony, one's life. Also applied to other objects, activities, etc.
    yawnsome1900–
    
    sludgy1901–
    
    figurative. Sluggish, tedious; confused and undefined, ‘muddy’.
    blah1937–
    
    Dull, unexciting; pretentious.
    nowhere1940–
    
    Belonging or going nowhere; of or from nowhere; non-existent. In later use: insignificant, unsatisfactory, ‘dead-end’ (frequently colloquial).
    drack1945–
    
    Not interesting or exciting; dreary, dull.
    dead-ass1962–
    
    Lacking energy or vitality; uninspired, dull, dreary.
    stupefactive1970–
    
    Extremely dull, tiresome, or boring.
    lame1972–
    
    slang and colloquial (originally U.S.). Bland, dull, boring; uninspiring, unimpressive.
    schleppy1978–
    
    Characterized by laborious or tedious movement or progress; sluggish; slow-moving. Cf. schlep, v.
    wack1986–
    
    Bad; harmful; unfashionable, boring. Esp. in the anti-drug slogan crack is wack and variants.
    View in Historical Thesaurus
  2. II.4.b.
    c1400–
    
    Unremitting, incessant. In later use esp. (of rainfall) sustained, persistent; cf. sense II.4e.
    Sometimes with the implication that the rain is fine, but falling densely and continuously.
    c1400 (?c1390)
    Quen þe dyntez hym dered of her dryȝe strokez, Þen..on burnez he [sc. a boar] rasez.
    Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1460
    1854
    In Lancashire people talk of ‘dree rain’... And they say it rains ‘dreely’ meaning that it is continuous and enduring.
    W. Gaskell, Lectures on Lancashire Dialect 22
    1857
    The rains are heavy and dree upon Ashworth moors.
    E. Waugh, Sketches of Lancashire Life (ed. 2) 207
    1930
    It was raining now, a thick dree rain.
    D. H. Lawrence, Love among Haystacks 81
    2019
    [Making small talk about the weather is way more fun if you're in a country where someone might say] ‘It's a dreich rain that gets intae ye, nae a rain ye can keep off by sticking up ye brellie.’ ☔.
    @p_a__mcg 21 March in twitter.com (accessed 26 July 2019)
    English regional (midlands)English regional (northern)Scottish English Irish English (northern)
    the world action or operation continuing [adjectives] continuous or without stop or pause (of action) unremitting
    dreichc1400–
    
    Unremitting, incessant. In later use esp. (of rainfall) sustained, persistent; cf. sense II.4e.
    unrespited1593–
    
    Without respite; unrelieved, unremitting.
    unslacked1593–
    
    Unslackened, unrelaxed.
    unremitteda1630–
    
    Of an activity, condition, process, etc.: continuous, constant, incessant; = unremitting, adj. 1.
    unrelented1651–
    
    Unmitigated, unmoderated, unabated; unrelenting.
    unremitting1668–
    
    Of an activity, condition, process, etc.: continuing without pause or reduction in intensity; continuous, constant, incessant.
    unflagging1715–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 4.)
    unrelaxing1715–
    
    That does not relax, weaken, or flag; unrelenting, unwavering.
    unbating1744–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 4.)
    unslackening1768–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 4.)
    unabatinga1774–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 4.)
    unremittent1776–
    
    = unremitting, adj.
    unreceding1810–
    
    Not receding.
    irremissive1817–
    
    Characterized by being without remission; unremitting.
    remitless1818–
    
    Without remission; unremitting, relentless; unpardoned.
    unrelaxed1825–
    
    Not relaxed; (in early use) (Scottish) not free from restraint, legal process, or penalty; (now esp.) not free from tension or stress.
    unslackened1870–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 2.)
    bateless1886
    
    Unabating.
    View in Historical Thesaurus
  3. II.4.c.
    1606–
    
    Slow, sluggish; (of a person) tardy or reluctant to begin or do something; dilatory; spec. slow to pay for something or settle debts (cf. sense II.7).
    1606
    Fearing to be esteemed drigh, nice, or in any way wanting due regard to your Lordship's pleasure.
    in D. Calderwood, History of Kirk of Scotland (1849) vol. VIII. 58
    1768
    Na aunty says he, she was not sae skeigh, Nor wi' her answer very blate or dreigh.
    A. Ross, Fortunate Shepherdess i. 33
    1818
    Our minny here's rather driegh in the upgang.
    W. Scott, Heart of Mid-Lothian iv, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Series vol. III. 88
    1835
    I told him I was a stranger come to do business..and wanted to have his opinion of some of the people of the place; so I mentioned my men, and he told me the first was dreek, the second was unco dreek, and the third was dreeker and dreeker.
    J. D. Carrick, Laird of Logan ii. 213
    1901
    The Commissioners hae got it the noo, an' they're guy driech. They go by Irish lang measure in lan', time, an' aw!
    Northern Whig (Belfast)
    1912
    Though rejoicin', dreich his fitsteps grew.
    D. McKie, Fables frae French 11
    1992
    The Scots are aw mooth but when it comes tae takin action they're gey dreich.
    in Scottish National Dictionary New Suppl. (Electronic text) at Dreich
    English regional (midlands)English regional (northern)Scottish English Irish English (northern)
    the world action or operation manner of action slowness of action or operation [adjectives] specifically of persons
    slowc1300–
    
    Of a person: spending a comparatively long time carrying out particular tasks or actions; acting in an unhurried, deliberate manner.
    sluggishc1450–
    
    Of persons: Indisposed to action or exertion; inclined to be slow or slothful; not easily moved to activity.
    tardious?1572
    
    = tardy, adj.
    dreich1606–
    
    Slow, sluggish; (of a person) tardy or reluctant to begin or do something; dilatory; spec. slow to pay for something or settle debts (cf. sense II.7).
    slowback1610–19
    
    Slow, sluggish; laggard.
    reluctant1797
    
    Tardy, slow. Obsolete. rare.
    tardigrade1813–
    
    figurative. Slow in thought or action; sluggish, unprogressive. rare.
    View in Historical Thesaurus
  4. II.4.d.
    1786–
    
    Depressingly dull, dreary, or monotonous; not providing interest, excitement, or enjoyment.
    1786
    When thou an' I were young an' skiegh, An' Stable-meals at Fairs were driegh.
    R. Burns, Poems 120
    1793
    The road is lang an' unco driegh.
    S. Thomson, Poems Scottish Dial. 87
    1828
    This has been a dreich day to me—a dreary day, an' I waur gloamin.
    Belfast News Letter 7 November
    1886
    My life is a bit driegh..I see little company.
    R. L. Stevenson, Kidnapped xxiii. 225
    1914
    It was a dreich business—after the entertainments of Wednesday—to be at the station in time for the 8.35 a.m. train on Thursday morning.
    British Journal of Photography 17 July 551/1
    1950
    From then on until the final whistle it was dreich stuff, with neither 'keeper having much to do.
    Dundee Courier 6 April 6/4
    2012
    There is a renewed appetite for the cinema—still the ultimate form of escapism—in these dreich times of recession.
    Scottish Express (Nexis) 24 June 45
    English regional (midlands)English regional (northern)Scottish English Irish English (northern)
  5. II.4.e.
    1847–
    
    Of weather: rainy, overcast, or cold; dreary, bleak. Also: characterized by such weather.
    Probably originally an extension of sense II.4b, but in later use influenced also by sense II.4d.
    1847
    The deer..are lean and poverty-stricken as the sheep upon the hills. Throughout the long, late, and dreich spring of 1847, many, it is to be feared, died of starvation.
    Inverness Courier 20 July 4/6
    1863
    It's dree weather for them, but they'll not mind that... She noticed..that the rain was spoken of in reference to them, not to her.
    E. C. Gaskell, Sylvia's Lovers vol. II. xi. 205
    1892
    Wat, wat an' cauld, an' desolate—Oh! driech was that December day.
    J. Lumsden, Sheep-head & Trotters 315
    1956
    A Festival as bright as the weather was dreich.
    Scots Magazine October 84/2
    2003
    It was a miserable day, grey and dreich, but the mall was sparklin wi fairy lights and the place was mobbed.
    A. Donovan, Buddha Da 122
    weather English regional (midlands)English regional (northern)Scottish English Irish English (northern)
    the world the earth weather and the atmosphere weather bad weather [adjectives] bleak (of weather)
    doura1500–
    
    Of conditions, an environment, or the weather: harsh, bleak, gloomy, dreary.
    blaea1522–
    
    Of the weather: Bleak, sunless.
    dreich1847–
    
    Of weather: rainy, overcast, or cold; dreary, bleak. Also: characterized by such weather.
    View in Historical Thesaurus
2. 1. II.5.a.
    c1400–1540
    
    † Expressing or characteristic of sorrow or distress; sorrowful, sad. Obsolete.
    c1400 (?c1390)
    In dreȝ droupyng of dreme draueled þat noble, As mon þat watz in mornyng of mony þro þoȝtes.
    Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1750 (Middle English Dictionary)
    c1540 (?a1400)
    Elan..driet the dropis of hir dregh teris.
    Gest Historiale Destruction of Troy (2002) f. 52^v
  2. II.5.b.
    1819–
    
    Of a person: downcast, sombre, humourless in mood, disposition or appearance; miserable, gloomy; sober, sullen, dour.
    1819
    There they are that were capering on their prancing nags four days since, and they are now ganging as driegh and sober as oursells the day.
    W. Scott, Bride of Lammermoor viii, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Series vol. III. 114
    1894
    A' hear that they have nae examination in humour at the college; it's an awfu' want, for it wud keep oot mony a dreich body.
    ‘I. Maclaren’, Beside Bonnie Brier Bush 207
    1917
    The dreichest saul could see he had sunlicht in his ee.
    J. Buchan, Poems 38
    1998
    Heid o the hoose wis Auld Dod Mowatt, the patriarch o the clan—a thin, dour, lang, dreich chiel, weel inno the echties.
    S. Blackhall, Bonsai Grower 17
    2011
    Pick out the dreichest, wershest, most crotchety co-worker you can find, and set out to be as unlike them as possible.
    Aberdeen Press & Journal (Nexis) 29 January (Columnist section) 40
    English regional (midlands)English regional (northern)Scottish English Irish English (northern)
    the mind emotion suffering dejection melancholy seriousness or solemnity [adjectives]
    seinec1330
    
    ? Grave, sober.
    sober1362–
    
    Quiet or sedate in demeanour; of grave, dignified, or discreet deportment; serious or staid in character or conduct.
    unfeastlyc1386–
    
    Not in festival trim.
    murec1390–
    
    Grave, modest, demure. Now only in mure-hearted: see compounds.
    unlaughter-milda1400
    
    Not prone to laughter; serious, sober.
    sadc1400–1685
    
    Of thought, consideration, etc.: mature, serious, grave, considered. Obsolete (but cf. in sad earnest at phrases P.1).
    solemnyc1420–50
    
    Solemn.
    solemned1423–1567
    
    Solemn, in various senses.
    serious1440–
    
    Of a person: having a grave or solemn disposition, as a permanent attribute or tendency; of an earnest nature; having depth or solidity of…
    solemnc1449–
    
    Of a serious, grave, or earnest character. Of actions, feelings, etc.
    solenc1460–1600
    
    Solemn, in various senses.
    solemnel?1473–1647
    
    Solemn.
    moy1487–
    
    Mild, gentle; demure. Also: affected in manners, prim; reserved, unsocial.
    demure1523
    
    Of persons (and their bearing, speech, etc.): Sober, grave, serious; reserved or composed in demeanour. (Cf. history of sad, adj. & n. & adv.)
    grave1549–
    
    Of persons, their character, aspect, speech, or behaviour: Marked by weighty dignity; of reverend seriousness. In later use with wider sense, of…
    staid1557–
    
    Settled in character; of grave or sedate deportment; dignified and serious in demeanour or conduct… Of a person, his or her actions, attributes, etc.
    sage1564–1645
    
    Grave, dignified, solemn. Obsolete.
    sullen1583–1719
    
    Solemn, serious. Obsolete.
    weighty1602–77
    
    Serious, grave; expressing seriousness or gravity, earnest, solemn. Obsolete.
    solid1632–
    
    Of persons. Sober-minded, of reliable judgement, in practical matters; steady, sedate, staid.
    censoriousa1637–60
    
    Befitting a censor; grave, severe. Obsolete.
    (as) grave (also solemn, etc.) as a judge1650–
    
    (as) grave (also solemn, etc.) as a judge.
    untriumphant1659–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 1.)
    setc1660
    
    That has assumed a permanent form or condition; immovable, persistent. Of demeanour: Composed, grave. Obsolete.
    agelastic1666–
    
    literary. Never laughing; morose, laughter-hating.
    austere1667
    
    Grave, serious. Obsolete. rare.
    humourless1671–
    
    Lacking (a sense of) humour.
    unlaughing1737–
    
    Not laughing; not given to laughter; characterized by a lack of laughter; stern, solemn.
    smileless1740–
    
    Of persons, the features, expression, etc.: Exhibiting no smile; never smiling; grave, severe.
    untriflinga1743–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 4.)
    untittering1749–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 4.)
    steady1759–
    
    Not given to frivolity; staid.
    dun1797–1913
    
    Of a person's thoughts: characterized by abstractedness or idle musing (cf. brown study, n.). Later more generally: characterized by solemn…
    antithalian1818–
    
    Opposed to or contemptuous of fun, merriment, or revelry; strait-laced, puritanical.
    dreich1819–
    
    Of a person: downcast, sombre, humourless in mood, disposition or appearance; miserable, gloomy; sober, sullen, dour.
    laughterless1825–
    
    unsmiling1826–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 4.)
    laughless1827–
    
    Devoid of laughter; mirthless, unamusing.
    straight-faced1829–
    
    Having a blank, serious, or unsmiling facial expression; not showing amusement or other emotion; (more generally) serious, solemn, earnest. Cf. str…
    unfestive1844–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 1.)
    sober-sided1847–
    
    gleeless1850–
    
    Devoid of glee.
    unfarcical1850–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 1.)
    mome1855–
    
    Explained by Carroll as: grave, solemn. (Only in Carroll and later allusions.)
    humour-blind1882–
    
    †a. (Of a horse) affected by humour-blindness (humour-blindness, n. (a)) (obsolete rare); b. lacking a sense of humour, without humour.
    deedy1895–
    
    Full of deeds or activity; active. Also, earnest, serious.
    button-down1959–
    
    Originally and chiefly North American. Having or characteristic of a conventional or conservative attitude; staid, repressed. Cf. buttoned-down, adj.…
    buttoned-down1960–
    
    Originally and chiefly North American. Having or characteristic of a conventional or conservative attitude or appearance; staid, formal…
    View in Historical Thesaurus
3. 1. II.6.a.
    1597–1906
    
    † Difficult or dangerous to reach or negotiate; inaccessible; steep. Obsolete.
    1597
    The craig was vgly stay and dreiche.
    A. Montgomerie, Cherrie & Slae 343
    1794
    Loup down, loup down, my master dear, What though the window's dreigh and hie, I'll catch you in my arms twa.
    J. Ritson, Scotish Song vol. I. 35
    1874
    The bonnie hills o' Wanlock, I've spielt them ane an' a', Baith laich and heich and stey and dreich.
    R. Wanlock, Moorland Rhymes 65
    1906
    Yer hieland hills are heigh and dreigh, And they are ill to climb.
    Rymour Club Misc. vol. I. 186
    the world the earth land landscape high land slope [adjectives] steep
    stickleOld English–
    
    Esp. of a hill or path: steep, sloping; set at a sharp angle; high. Also: rough, rugged. English regional (south-western) in later use.
    steepc1175–
    
    Of a hill, mountain, cliff: Having an almost perpendicular face or slope, precipitous. Of a gradient or slope, a staircase, etc.: High-pitched.
    steyc1480–
    
    Of a mountain, cliff, etc.: Approaching the perpendicular, difficult of ascent, steep.
    shore1487–1585
    
    Steep, precipitous; rugged.
    proclive1524–1606
    
    Sloping steeply forwards and downwards. Obsolete.
    steeping1530–87
    
    That slopes precipitously, steep. Obsolete.
    brant1545
    
    Lofty, steep, sheer, precipitous.
    steepy1565–
    
    Steep; full of steep places; precipitous.
    abrupt1591–
    
    Of a mountain, slope, rock face, etc.: precipitous, steep. Also: (of terrain) characterized by sharp relief, rugged, jagged.
    dreich1597–1906
    
    Difficult or dangerous to reach or negotiate; inaccessible; steep. Obsolete.
    downsteepy1603–1914
    
    Steeply descending, precipitous.
    acclive1616–1829
    
    That rises with a slope, sloping upwards, steep; = acclivous, adj. Cf. acclivitous, adj., declive, adj.
    arduous1711–
    
    Lofty, high, steep, difficult to climb; also figurative.
    sharp1725–
    
    With reference to form only (without implication of cutting or piercing). Of an ascent or descent, a rise or fall (literal or figurative): Abrupt.
    acclivous1730–
    
    Rising with a slope; sloping (esp. steeply) upward, ascending.
    rapid1785–
    
    Of a slope: descending or ascending quickly; steep, sudden.
    declivitous1799–
    
    Having a (considerable) declivity or slope; steep.
    acclivitous1803–
    
    Of the nature of, or characterized by an acclivity; having an upward slope, steep. Also figurative.
    scarped1823–
    
    Reduced to a steep face, laid bare, cut away, steep.
    proclivitous1860
    
    Steep.
    stoss1878–
    
    Designating the side of any object that faces a flow of ice or water; also transferred. Frequently in stoss-side; stoss-and-lee attributive phr…
    resequent1906–
    
    Of a fault-line scarp or a related feature: having a relief similar to that originally produced by the faulting; spec. where such relief results from…
    View in Historical Thesaurus
    the world movement motion in a certain direction movement towards a thing, person, or position [adjectives] affording access accessible inaccessible
    inaccessible?a1475–
    
    Of a physical or spiritual place: that cannot be reached, entered, or accessed; that cannot be scaled or penetrated; that does not give access to…
    unwinnablec1540–
    
    Not winnable; esp. of fortresses: Impregnable.
    improachable?a1560
    
    Unapproachable.
    inaccesse?1567
    
    Unapproachable, inaccessible.
    unapproachable1574–
    
    Of things or places: That cannot be approached; inaccessible.
    unreachablea1586–
    
    Not reachable or contactable; unattainable.
    unaccessible1596–1768
    
    = inaccessible, adj.
    dreich1597–1906
    
    Difficult or dangerous to reach or negotiate; inaccessible; steep. Obsolete.
    accessless?1614–
    
    Having no means of access or approach; inaccessible. Later also: having no access to something.
    approachless1647–
    
    Unapproachable; inaccessible.
    uncome-at-able1694–
    
    Unattainable; inaccessible.
    inapproachable1828–
    
    That cannot be approached; inaccessible, unapproachable.
    unget-at-able1862–
    
    (un-, prefix¹ affix 1b.)
    View in Historical Thesaurus
  2. II.6.b.
    1804–
    
    Of a task, work, etc.: taxing, laborious, difficult; spec. requiring close attention; intricate, fine-detailed.
    In more general use sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense II.4d.
    1804
    Nae mair o' dreich and grievous tasks, Or langsome days we hear.
    R. Couper, Poetry Scottish Language vol. I. 87
    1843
    The work [sc. lacemaking] tries the eyes; the black is the worst; ‘it is dree work.’
    Children's Employm. Comm.: 2nd Rep.: Trades & Manuf. 10 in Parliamentary Papers vol. XIII. 307
    1883
    A sair week's wark we had—for flittin' is a dreich job.
    W. D. Latto, Bodkin Papers xii. 62
    1892
    It's a dree job cutting these beeans; they're all ankled tigither seea.
    M. C. F. Morris, Yorkshire Folk-talk 299
    1915
    The women have to do what they call dree work—running on these black silk hose, extremely fine, and they would like a light fixing so that it is..shining on the work.
    1st Rep. Departmental Comm. Lighting in Factories: Part II. Minutes Evidence 142/2 in Parliamentary Papers 1914–16 (Cd. 8001) vol. XXI. 639
    1933
    It's a dreich job howkin' tatties wi' the caul' win' in yer duds.
    Border Magazine June 82
    English regional (midlands)English regional (northern)Scottish English Irish English (northern)
    the world action or operation difficulty types of difficulty [adjectives] difficult or laborious
    strongc1175–1502
    
    gen. Requiring great effort, arduous, difficult. Chiefly with infinitive. Obsolete.
    travailousa1382–
    
    Characterized by or involving great effort, exertion, pain, or discomfort; laborious, exhausting; arduous, difficult. Cf. travailsome, adj.
    laborousc1405–
    
    = laborious, adj. (in various senses).
    laboriousc1410–
    
    Characterized by or involving hard work or exertion; requiring much time or effort; arduous, tiring; painstaking, tiresomely difficult. Also of a…
    travailsome1549–
    
    Characterized by or involving great effort, exertion, pain, or discomfort; laborious, exhausting; arduous, difficult; = travailous, adj.
    laboursome1551–
    
    Requiring, involving, or characterized by hard work or exertion; = laborious, adj. 2.
    rigorousa1564–
    
    Demanding great effort or commitment; characterized by or involving stringent or exacting standards; (also, of a religious practice, etc.)…
    Herculean1594–
    
    Of a labour or task: Difficult or hard to accomplish as Hercules' labours were; requiring the strength of a Hercules; excessive, immense.
    surly1609–
    
    figurative from 2, 3: †‘Imperious’, stern and rough (obsolete); (of soil, etc.) obstinate, refractory, intractable; (of weather, etc.) rough and…
    Augean1724–
    
    Of a task, undertaking, etc.: requiring so much effort to complete as to seem impossible; very difficult or demanding. Cf. Herculean, adj. 3.
    dreich1804–
    
    Of a task, work, etc.: taxing, laborious, difficult; spec. requiring close attention; intricate, fine-detailed.
    View in Historical Thesaurus
4. II.7.
  1673–1884
  
  † Shrewd or uncompromising in business matters; that drives a hard bargain. Obsolete.
  Quot. 1673 probably shows this sense of the adjective, but it could be alternatively be analysed as showing a noun use with the sense ‘a hard bargainer’.
  1673
  Dree.., A hard bargainer, spoken of a person.
  J. Ray, Observations Journey Low-countries 15
  a1728
  Dree.., a Dree-Man, a Dree-Bargainer, i.e. a Hard-Man, or hard-Chapman. One who gives a great many words to a bargain.
  W. Kennett, Etymol. Collection of English Words & Provincial Expressions (2018) 174/2
  1884
  Dree.., A man who is difficult to deal with is a dree bargainer. ‘He's nor a foo, although he does na look so very breet; but if yo'n eawt do wi' him, yo'n foind him very dree.’
  R. Holland, Glossary of Words County of Chester (1886)

Phrases

1755–

dreich to draw: slow or reluctant to act, decide, give, etc. Also (and earliest) in dreich of (also in, a) drawing in the same sense. Now rare.
Sc. National Dict. (at cited word) records this phrase as known to correspondents in Aberdeenshire in 1940.
1755
The lads wis nae vera driech a-drawin, bat lap in amo' the dubs in a hand-clap.
R. Forbes, Journal London to Portsmouth in translation of Ovid, Ajax his Speech (new edition) 31
1790
I'm but e'en right dreigh to draw, Altho' I'm fain.
A. Shirrefs, Poems 355
1821
Whar's the leefu'-hairtit Caledonian wha wad be driech in drawing to gar the wallot skaud o' our mither-tounge shyne like the rouky gleemoch in a craunrochie morning.
Scots Magazine April 352/1
1823
The compliment is like the chariot-wheels o'Pharaoh, sae dreigh o' drawing, that I canna afford to be blate wi' you ony langer.
J. Galt, Entail vol. III. xxi. 199
1895
They'd tell J. M...gif he noo wid say he'd stan' Success they'd stake their life upo'. But, haith, J. M. wis driech to draw; En' weel did he remember The dirty trick they played 'pon him At Farfar lest November.
Dundee Courier 12 July 2/5
English regional (midlands)English regional (northern)Scottish English Irish English (northern)

Pronunciation

British English

/driːx/

dreekh

U.S. English

/drik/

dreek

/drix/

dreekh

Scottish English

/drix/

Irish English

/ðreː/

/driːx/

Variant: dree

British English

/driː/

U.S. English

/dri/

Frequency

dreich typically occurs fewer than 0.01 times per million words in modern written English.

dreich is in frequency band 2, which contains words occurring between 0.001 and 0.01 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

Frequency of dreich, adj., 1800–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade	Frequency per million words
1800	0.0014
1810	0.0014
1820	0.0013
1830	0.0015
1840	0.0016
1850	0.002
1860	0.0028
1870	0.0033
1880	0.0037
1890	0.004
1900	0.0042
1910	0.0042
1920	0.0043
1930	0.0035
1940	0.0031
1950	0.0033
1960	0.0034
1970	0.0033
1980	0.0033
1990	0.0033
2000	0.0037
2010	0.004

Compounds & derived words

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dreichly, adv. late Old English–

Sadly; gloomily, in a dreary or depressing way; bleakly. Now often with reference to wet, cold, or overcast weather (cf. sense 3a).

dreich, n. a1275–

Scottish. Dullness, bleakness, gloom; spec. wet, cold, or overcast weather.

dree, adv. c1330–1900

To a great degree or extent; with great force.

undreigh, adj. a1350–1400

? Lacking in diligence; slack.

dreight, n. c1450–1540

Length or duration in time; the whole or greater part of a period of time. day of the dreight: the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Cf…

Quotations

Earlier version

In other dictionaries

Factsheet

What does the adjective dreich mean?

How common is the adjective dreich?

How is the adjective dreich pronounced?

British English

U.S. English

Scottish English

Irish English

Where does the adjective dreich come from?

Nearby entries

Etymology

Summary

Notes

Meaning & use

Quotations

Contents

Earlier version

In other dictionaries

Phrases

Pronunciation

British English

U.S. English

Scottish English

Irish English

Variant: dree

British English

U.S. English

British English

Consonants

Vowels

Other symbols

U.S. English

Consonants

Vowels

Other symbols

Scottish English

Consonants

Vowels

Other symbols

Irish English

Consonants

Vowels

Other symbols

Simple Text Respell

Consonants

Vowels

Forms

Date of use

Variant forms

Frequency

Frequency of dreich, adj., 1800–2010

Compounds & derived words